Game validation using game play events and video

ABSTRACT

Validation of gaming operations is described. One method includes receiving a video signal depicting a game from at least one video device, receiving game play events from a gaming apparatus, combining a graphical representation of the game play events with the video signal into a combined video signal, and storing the combined video signal such that one may search for game play events and receive, with each search result, a corresponding portion of the combined video signal.

BACKGROUND

Table-based games continue to be an immensely popular form of gaming.Such table games include, for example, Poker, Blackjack, Baccarat,Craps, Roulette and other traditional games, as well as other morerecently introduced games such as Pai-Gow, Carribean Stud, and SpanishBlackjack, among others. In a typical game, a player places a wager on agame, wherein a winning may be paid to the player depending on anoutcome of the game. As is generally known, a wager may involve the useof cash, chips, markers, as well as various forms of claims. The gameitself may involve the use of, for example, cards, dice, wheels, balls,or tokens, with the rules of the game and any payouts or pay tablesbeing established prior to game play. Possible winnings may be paid incash, credit, chips, markers, prizes, or other forms of payouts.

An operator may employ playing card dispensers, such as shoes, tofacilitate dealing of the cards in one of the above mentioned playingcard-based games. In a game of Blackjack, for example, a shoe is stockedwith one or more decks of shuffled playing cards. Conventionally, afront panel of the shoe includes an opening extending upward from abottom of the shoe through which the back of the next card to be dealtis exposed. To access the next card, one slides one's fingers along theopening with a result that the next card is moved downward and outthrough a slot in the bottom of the shoe.

Known shoes are designed to be used with cards that can be touched andfelt by the dealer. Hence, the dealer may be able to manipulate thecards. For example, the dealer may be able to collude with a player toprovide select cards to the player. Alternatively, when a number ofplayers are playing a card game, the dealer's attention may betemporarily diverted to one end of a table, for example when dealing theplaying cards, thereby providing an opportunity for two players at anopposite end of the table to swap playing cards.

Radio frequency identification (RFID), optical scanning, and othertechnologies have been employed in the gaming industry. With respect toplaying cards and card dispensers, it is possible to provide datarelating to individual cards that are distributed from the abovementioned card dispensers. Such dispensers may be referred to asintelligent card dispensers or intelligent shoes.

In addition, it is known to videotape and/or view these games through acamera mounted above the playing table. However, these monitoringmethods generally do not provide enough clarity to detect cheating viathe above described methods and others. Further, even if enough clarityis generated to view all aspects of individual gaming events, it stillrequires an inordinate amount of manual effort to review all of thegaming activity videos in an attempt to detect and evaluate “securityevents.” The amount of time required increases both operating costs andthe difficulty of detecting cheating in a timely manner. It further hasbeen difficult to synchronize the video with data from a particular gameor card from a game even when considering the availability of the RFIDand other data provided directly by the gaming devices.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention enable a gaming operator to validate gamingoperations. At least one game tracking device is configured to detectand communicate game play events in a game. At least one video device isconfigured to provide a video signal. The game play events are receivedfrom the game tracking device. The video signal is received from thevideo device. A graphical representation of each of the received gameplay events is combined with the received video signal to generate acombined video signal. Searching for game play events is enabled.

This summary is provided to introduce a selection of concepts in asimplified form that are further described below in the DetailedDescription. This Summary is not intended to identify key features oressential features of the claimed subject matter, nor is it intended tobe used as an aid in determining the scope of the claimed subjectmatter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of an exemplary system in which game playevents and video are combined and presented to a user.

FIG. 2 is an example flowchart for validating gaming operations.

FIG. 3 is an example frame from a video signal.

FIG. 4 is an example frame from a combined video signal.

FIG. 5 is an example frame from a combined video signal including awarning type game play event.

FIG. 6 is an example screen shot of a user interface for searching forgame play events.

FIG. 7 is a block diagram of data processing in an exemplary system.

FIG. 8 is an example frame from a second video signal.

FIG. 9 is an example frame from a combination of two video signals.

FIG. 10 is an example frame from a combination of two video signalscombined with graphical representations of game play events.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

Embodiments of the invention enable a gaming operator to validate gamingoperations. Validation is performed using video of a game combined withgraphical representations of game play events generated by gamingequipment. Game play events can be searched. Aspects of the inventionmay be implemented with a system such as that shown in FIG. 1.

Combining a graphical representation of game play events with a videosignal to create a searchable record of a game reduces the amount oftime required to review the game for evidence of cheating. Thisreduction in time improves operating efficiencies and speed of securityevent detection. Furthermore, automated searching can be configured todetect suspicious conditions in a game and provide a notification to auser with a corresponding video clip. Such automated monitoring maydetect security events that manual review would fail to recognize.

Referring to FIG. 1, a schematic diagram illustrates an exemplary system100 in which game play events and video are combined and presented to auser 105. User 105 accesses a user computing device 110 such as abrowser client to view game information presented thereon. Gameinformation is communicated to the user computing device 110 through anetwork 115. The network 115 is any type of network that communicativelycouples computing devices. Examples of the network 115 include theInternet, a peer to peer (P2P) network, a local area network (LAN), or awide area network (WAN).

The user computing device 110 is any device capable of accessing thenetwork 115 and presenting game information to the user 105. By way ofexample only, and not limitation, these devices include a laptop, adesktop computer, or a cellular phone or smart phone. The user computingdevice 110 includes a form of computer-readable media that stores, amongother things, applications or programs. The user computing device 110includes a user input device that enables the user 105 to enterinformation into the user computing device 110. These include, forexample, a keyboard, a pointing device, or an audio input device. Theuser computing device 110 also includes one or more output devices, suchas a graphical display device or an audio output device.

Stored on the computer-readable media associated with the user computingdevice 110 is a user interface such as, among other possibilities, a webbrowser. Web browsers enable users, such as user 105, to display andinteract with media (e.g., game play events and video) and otherinformation typically embedded on a web page or a website on the servercomputing device 120.

Server computing device 120 is communicatively coupled through thenetwork 115 to the user computing device 110. Server computing device120 is any type of server that contains a processor operable to executecomputer executable instructions and a memory to store and retrieveinformation. The server computing device 120 is communicatively coupledto at least one video device 125, such as, for example, a video camera.The video device 125 is configured to provide a video signal depicting agame. Multiple video devices 125 may be used to provide multipleperspectives of the game. The server computing device 120 iscommunicatively coupled to at least one game tracking device 130. Thegame tracking device 130 provides information regarding game play. Forexample, the game tracking device 130 may be an intelligent card shoethat communicates the identity and/or value of a playing card as it isdispensed. The game tracking device 130 may also be a card trackingdevice that detects card position on a table or any other device capableof providing information about a game or the people involved in thegame.

The server computing device 120 is communicatively coupled to a gameinformation storage device 135 which serves as a memory area. The gameinformation storage device 135 can be used to store game playinformation such as game play events and game video. The gameinformation storage device 135 can be a form of computer-readable media,such as a hard disk drive or optical disk drive. In some embodiments,the literary work storage device 135 is integrated with the servercomputing device 120. In some embodiments, the game information storagedevice 135 includes a database such as a relational, hierarchical, orobject-oriented database. Game play events are stored in the database ofgame information storage device 135 and can later be searched for usinga standard query language. Video signals may be stored as items in sucha database, as files, or in any other appropriate form in the gameinformation storage device 135.

In some embodiments, the invention is implemented as a system having amemory area, which may take the form of a game information storagedevice 135, for storing at least one video signal and multiple game playevents. The system also includes a processor configured to receive atleast one video signal including video of a game. The processor storesthe video signal in the memory area. The processor receives game playevents from at least one game tracking device 130 and stores the gameplay events in the memory area. The processor is further configured tosearch for one or more of the stored game play events to generate searchresults. For each of the search results, the processor combines agraphical representation of the search result with a correspondingportion of the stored video signal to generate a combined video signal.

Multiple video signals may be received by the processor for a singlegame. In some embodiments, receiving at least one video signal comprisesreceiving multiple video signals and combining the video signals into asingle video signal. In another embodiment, multiple video signals arereceived and stored separately. In this case, combining a graphicalrepresentation of the search result with a corresponding portion of theat least one stored video signal may include combining a graphicalrepresentation of the search result with a corresponding portion of atleast one of the multiple stored video signals.

Searching for one or more of the stored game play events may includesearching based on game piece value, game piece identification, playeridentification, operator identification, game outcome, payout, and/ortime period. Other search criteria are also contemplated.

The game monitored by the system may be any type of game of chanceplayed in a casino or other setting. Examples include a card game, adice game, a table game, a reel game, and a wheel game, though othertypes of games are also contemplated. In some embodiments, the gametracking device 130 is a card dispenser which detects and communicatescard identity and/or card value. Card identity and card value may beprovided by an RFID chip embedded in a card or may be encoded in anoptically scannable portion of a card, though other methods of cardidentification are also contemplated.

In another embodiment, the system includes at least one server incommunication with at least one gaming apparatus. The system alsoincludes at least one video device providing a video signal to theserver. The system includes a processor configured to receive aplurality of game play events from the gaming apparatus. The processoris further configured to receive the video signal from the video deviceand synchronize the received game play events with the received videosignal. The processor is further configured to search for one or more ofthe received game play events to generate search results. For each ofthe search results, the processor is configured to combine a graphicalrepresentation of the search result with a corresponding portion of thereceived video signal to generate a combined video signal. The processormay be configured to provide the combined video signal to a user of aremote device.

The gaming apparatus may be a device that detects and communicates careidentify and/or card value as described above.

Searching for one or more of the receive game play events may includeenabling a user of a remote device to provide search criteria andsearching for one or more of the received game play events based on theprovided search criteria. The search criteria may include game piecevalue, game piece identification, player identification, operatoridentification, game outcome, payout, and/or time period. Other searchcriteria are also contemplated.

Referring next to FIG. 2, an example flowchart 200 illustrates a methodfor validating gaming operations. At least one game tracking device 130is configured at 202 to detect and communicate game play events in agame. At least one video camera 125 is configured at 204 to have a viewof the game and provide a video signal. At 206, game play events arereceived from the game tracking device 130 by the server computingdevice 120. At 208, a video signal is received from the video camera 125by the server computing device 120. At 210, the server computing device120 combines a graphical representation of each of the received gameplay events with the received video signal to generate a combined videosignal. At 212, the server computing device 120 stores the combinedvideo signal in the game information storage device 135. At 214, theserver computing device 120 enables searching for one or more of thegame play events in the stored video signal. Encryption may be appliedto the video signal from the video camera, the combined video signal,and/or the stored video signal. Encrypting the data can preventtampering and establish the authenticity of the data if it is later usedas evidence.

Audio may also be incorporated into the video signal. Where a videocamera is connected to a microphone, for example, configuring a videocamera at 204 to have a view of the game and provide a video signal mayalso include configuring the at least one video camera to provide avideo signal combined with an audio signal from the microphone.Alternatively, at least one microphone near the game may be configuredto provide an audio signal. The audio signal from the at least onemicrophone is received by the server computing device 120. The audiosignal is added by the server computing device 120 to the video signalfrom the at least one video camera, the combined video signal, and/orthe stored video signal.

Combining a graphical representation of each of the game play eventswith the received video signal at 210 may include associating each ofthe game play events with a position in the combined video signal. Thisassociation may be used later to identify a corresponding portion of thevideo signal for a given game play event. The game play events may alsobe stored in the game information storage device 135.

In some embodiments, a game play event is associated with a portion of avideo signal by incorporating data about the game play event as apacketized elementary stream in a program stream or transport stream inwhich the video signal is also contained as a packetized elementarystream. In another embodiment, the game play event is associated with aportion of the video signal by defining a bookmark in the video signal.In another embodiment, the game play event is associated with a portionof the video signal by associating the game play event with a positionin the video signal. The position may be expressed in absolute terms(e.g., a frame number or date and time) or relative terms, such as anoffset in frames or time from a point in the video signal (e.g., theposition of another event), or any other means of indicating a positionthat enables accurate seeking to the position.

Enabling searching for game play events at 214 may include receiving arequest from a user for one or more game play events, searching thestored video signal for the requested game play events to generatesearch results, and providing to the user the portions of the storedvideo signal corresponding to the search results.

The game being validated may be any type of game of chance played in acasino or other setting. Examples include a card game, a dice game, atable game, a reel game, and a wheel game, though other types of gamesare also contemplated.

Referring next to FIG. 3, an example frame 300 from a video signal isprovided. In this example, the video signal is provided by a videocamera 125 placed over a game table on which a card game is beingplayed.

Referring next to FIG. 4, an example frame 400 from a combined videosignal is depicted. The original frame 300 is combined with graphicalrepresentations of game play events from two game tracking devices 130:a card tracking system and an intelligent shoe. In this example, thecard tracking system indicates a card with a value of five of clubs(“C5”) has been detected at a position on the table. A graphicalrepresentation of this event is superimposed on the original frame 300to indicate the card position 420 and value 425. The intelligent cardshoe indicates a card with an identification of “Pck1.231” and a valueof “C5” has been dispensed from the shoe. A graphical representation 430of this event is displayed above the original frame 300. Example frame400 also includes a date 440 and time 450 at which the video signal andgame play events were received.

In some embodiments, a graphical representation game play eventinformation is superimposed or overlaid on the original video signalprior to storage of the video signal. The video signal is thus stored asa combined video signal. In some embodiments, the game play eventinformation is superimposed or overlaid dynamically, at the time ofreview. The video signal is thus stored without any graphicalrepresentation of game play event information. In other embodiments, agraphical representation of game play event information is presented asa caption or captions to the video signal such that nothing issuperimposed or overlaid on the video signal. In embodiments where theevent information is dynamically superimposed or presented as a caption,it is contemplated that multiple sources of event information may beavailable (e.g., from an intelligent card shoe and a card trackingsystem) and that a user may elect to view event information from onlyone or some of the available event sources. It is further contemplatedthat, when displaying a search result, graphical representations ofseveral events may be displayed. Where event information is dynamicallysuperimposed or presented as a caption, the system may emphasize thegraphical representation of the game play event corresponding to asearch result. Such emphasis may take the form of highlighting,coloring, flashing, emboldening, or any other method suitable toindicate the game play event corresponding to the search result.

In some embodiments, the system may display graphical representations ofmultiple events in the form of a “ticker,” similar to a stock ticker.The ticker may be displayed in a horizontal orientation at the top orbottom of a screen, or in a vertical orientation on the left or rightside of the screen. Events presented in the ticker are automaticallyscrolled in a direction corresponding to the orientation of the ticker(i.e., events in a horizontal ticker scroll horizontally). In someembodiments, the ticker displays as many recent events as can bedisplayed in the ticker at once. When a new event is detected, the newevent is added to the ticker, and the other events are scrolled, suchthat the oldest displayed event is no longer displayed. In someembodiments, a user can select an event from the ticker to view aportion of the video signal corresponding to the selected event.

In some embodiments, graphical representations of multiple events aredisplayed in a list. The list may include a particular number of recentevents or all events which have occurred in a particular amount of time,such as the previous sixty seconds. The system may be aware of thebeginning and end of a game, in which case the list may include all or aportion of the events from a single game. The list may be scrollable bythe user to allow inclusion in the list of more events than can bedisplayed on a screen at once. In some embodiments, a user can select anevent from the list to view a portion of the video signal correspondingto the selected event.

Referring next to FIG. 5, an example frame 500 from a combined videosignal including a warning type game play event is provided. In thisexample, as in the example of FIG. 4, a video signal is combined withgraphical representations of events from two game tracking devices 130:a card tracking system and an intelligent card shoe. Four cards havebeen successfully detected by the card tracking system and intelligentcard shoe. Graphical representations of the detection events areportrayed. A first player has been dealt a five of clubs, as indicatedby position 510 and value 511. A second player has been dealt a six ofhearts, as indicated by position 512 and value 513. A third player hasbeen dealt an eight of spades, as indicated by position 514 and value515. A fourth player has been dealt a nine of diamonds, as indicated byposition 516 and value 517. In addition to the four cards described, afifth card has been dealt to the first player. The card tracking systemhas identified a three of diamonds (“D3”) on the table. The position 520of the identified card is superimposed on the video signal. However, theintelligent card shoe has not communicated a dispensing event for athree of diamonds. The system detects a discrepancy between the eventfrom the card tracking system and the lack of an event from theintelligent card shoe. A warning message 530 indicates the discrepancy.Further, the position 520 of the card for which no dispensing event wasreceived is visually emphasized.

Referring next to FIG. 6, an example screen shot depicts a userinterface 600 for searching for game play events. User interface 600 isan example user interface that provides various video searchcapabilities. User interface 600 provides a basic card track searchcapability. Specifically, security personnel can select one or more of:find all events, print event record, enable tracking object, and markevents using check boxes 602. The particular selections determine thepresentation of search results returned by selecting search button 604.In the illustrated example, “C5” is entered into the search for field,indicating that the search is limited to events associated with the fiveof clubs. Time fields 606 and 608 have a “from time” and a “to time”entered therein, for further narrowing of the search events associatedwith the five of clubs. In the illustrated example, the search time isfrom 12:00:00 to 12:15:00, which is a fifteen minute window. A searchresult has been returned, and a corresponding frame 400 of combinedvideo signal is included in the user interface 600. User interface 600may further include controls for playing a portion of the combined videosignal corresponding to the displayed frame 400.

In one application, user interface 600 is related to security staffentry of specific card information to be searched for a particular tableat an approximate event time. Based on an entry into the “search for”field 604 and selection of the search button 610, a search is performedin the system which will return a portion of combined video signalassociated with the specific event that occurred within the search timerange. Real-time security video is generally a gaming venue's firstlevel of legal event evidence collection. From the most basic videorecord, to the addition of the tracking methods described herein, anability to rapidly locate specific events in literally thousands ofhours' worth of surveillance video is provided as illustrated by thedescribed embodiments.

In response to a user selecting the search button 610, the system mayidentify multiple game play events matching the specified criteria. Insome embodiments, user interface 600 may include a list of searchresults from which a user may select a search result and view a portionof the combined video signal corresponding to the selected searchresult. In another embodiment, a search results user interface may bedisplayed. The search results user interface may include a list ofsearch results from which a user can select a search result. When theuser selects a search result, the user may be returned to user interface600 and may view a portion of the combined video signal corresponding tothe selected search result. Other methods for displaying and selectingamong multiple search results are also contemplated.

Referring next to FIG. 7, a block diagram illustrates data processing inan exemplary system. Packetized data is utilized, allowing for ease ofconversion between disparate input sources, enabling IP data transport,and assisting in encoding the mixed signal inputs (video/audio/data).

Video information 702 such as a video signal is input to a video encoder704. The video encoder 704 outputs encoded video 706 to a packetizer708, which outputs a video packetized elementary stream (“PES”) 710. Thevideo PES 710 is fed to both a program stream (“PS”) multiplexer 712 anda transport stream (“TS”) multiplexer 760. Audio information 732, eitherfrom a video device 125 or a discrete microphone, is input to an audioencoder 734. The audio encoder 734 outputs encoded audio 736 to apacketizer 738, which outputs an audio PES 740 to both the PSmultiplexer 712 and TS multiplexer 760. Event information 750 is inputto a packetizer 752, which outputs a data PES 754 to the TS multiplexer760.

The PS multiplexer 712 combines the video PES 710 and the audio PES 740into a program stream 720 suitable for purposes such as storage on arecordable medium, for example. The TS multiplexer 760 combines thevideo PES 710, audio PES 740, and data PES 754 into a transport stream770 suitable for purposes such as transmission to a computing device,for example. Event information 750 may also be fed to the PS multiplexer712 for inclusion in the program stream 720. Event information 750 mayalso be fed to video encoder 704 for inclusion, in graphical form, inencoded video 706. Furthermore, encryption may be applied to preventtampering with the information and later establish the authenticity ofthe output. Potential encryption points include the encoders (i.e.,video encoder 704 and audio encoder 734). Encryption may also be appliedto a PES (i.e., between a packetizer such as packetizer 708 and amultiplexer such as PS multiplexer 712), the program stream 720, and/orthe transport stream 770.

Referring next to FIG. 8, an example frame 800 from a second videosignal is provided. In this example, the video signal is provided by avideo camera 125 placed behind a dealer at a game table to provide anadditional perspective. Specifically, a video signal from thisperspective may provide a better view of players at the table whencompared with a video signal from a perspective above the table asdepicted in FIG. 3.

Referring next to FIG. 9, an example frame 900 from a combination of twovideo signals is provided. Specifically, example frame 800 and exampleframe 300 are combined into the single example frame 900.

Referring next to FIG. 10, an example frame 1000 from a combination oftwo video signals combined with graphical representations of game playevents is provided. In this example, example frame 900 is combined withgraphical representations of game play events from two game trackingdevices 130: a card tracking system and an intelligent shoe. In thisexample, the card tracking system indicates a card with a value of fiveof clubs (“C5”) has been detected at a position on the table. Agraphical representation of the detection event is superimposed on theoriginal frame 900 to indicate the card position 1005 and value 1010.The intelligent card shoe indicates a card with an identification of“Pck1.231” and a value of “C5” has been dispensed from the shoe. Agraphical representation 1015 of the dispensing event is displayed abovethe original frame 900.

In some embodiments, video signals from multiple video devices (e.g.,cameras) are stored separately. It is contemplated that in such anembodiment, a user may elect to view the video signal from only one orsome of the available video devices.

Embodiments of the invention are extensible to combine information frommany sources including multiple cameras, game piece (e.g., dice, cards,chips, etc.) tracking devices, table surface tracking technologies,imaging systems, staff-recorded information, player tracking informationand any other relevant sources of information. Game play eventinformation, for example, may be provided through a pluggable componentmodel, in which events from a device are converted by an adapter into astandard form for use within the system. Support for new devices maythus be easily added by providing an appropriate adapter. Such anadapter may take the form of a network device that resides between agame tracking device and a processor or server computing device. Anadapter may also be implemented as software on a computing deviceconnected to the game tracking device. Other forms of adapters are alsocontemplated.

All of the recorded event information may be searched and used torapidly find corresponding video sequences for review or even in situwherein the video information/security data may be relayed to gamingstaff via wireless devices. In the latter case, the system may beconfigured to automatically search for events or conditions meetingpredefined criteria. In addition, the system may include a notificationmechanism. When a condition meeting the predefined criteria is detected,the system may automatically dispatch a notification to interestedparties. The notification may take the form of an audible alarm, visiblealarm, radio transmission, network transmission, SMS message, emailmessage, or internal software message, though other forms ofnotification are also contemplated. The notification may include a linkto the portion or portions of video corresponding to the detectedcondition, or may itself include the corresponding portion or portionsof video.

In some embodiments, searching supports complex conditions. In someembodiments, at a black jack table, event information is received froman intelligent shoe, a card tracking system, and an intelligent chipdispenser. The system is configured to identify the cards dispensed to aplayer and the dealer and to calculate a payout amount for the player.The system receives a payout event including an actual payout amountfrom the intelligent chip dispenser and compares the actual payoutamount with the calculated payout amount. If the actual payout amountand calculated payout amount do not match, the system may notify aninterested party as described above.

In some embodiments, a video camera is directly connected to a computingdevice having a memory area and a processor configured to perform themethods described herein. In other embodiments, a video camera isconnected to an intermediate video device such as a video recorder orvideo encoder. An intermediate video device may also be connected togame tracking devices or gaming apparatus such that the intermediatevideo device can combine a graphical representation of game play eventswith the video signal from the video camera.

In some embodiments, the graphic representation of a game play event isnot added to the actual video, but overlaid based on a time stamp at thetime of review. Such an implementation does not require encoding, butrather uses simple time-based synchronization. Such a configuration iscontemplated to be compatible with legacy systems using tape format orother older forms of video storage, though this configuration is alsocompatible with modem video recording systems. In this implementation, astart time stamp may be used on the video to synchronize it with theoverlay or caption system. The overlay or caption system simply providesan approximate “time location” within the video and then any overlay orcaption can be combined with the video if required.

In some embodiments, the event information may be recorded digitally onDVD, for example, with the associated video and inputs using encodingsimilar, but not limited to that shown in the figures. Such anembodiment is but one example configuration that provides precise videoinformation position searching in relation to the game play event thatthe user wishes to review.

Using the information provided by current and contemplated gamingsystems, the game tracking method described herein allows for preciselocation and review of game play events on the associated media. Thus,the system is operable to overlay all card position information on thesecurity video, for example, allowing for a real-time examination ofsecurity events, disputes and the like. By combining information frommultiple game tracking systems, all game pieces within a gaming venuecan be tracked, and any event associated with the gaming venue can bequickly replayed for analysis.

Unlike some very costly spatial card tracking systems, which are oftenplagued with anomalies, the cost effective game tracking methoddescribed herein allows the combination of various new or existingtechnologies with basic high powered image analysis abilities providedby security video and human examination of said information. As the gametracking system can rapidly find and display security events, theinvention is extremely valuable even in real-time table monitoringsituations wherein security staff may request an immediate video reviewin response to a visual anomaly or suspicious play event. Theembodiments are seen as an excellent adjunct to many of the currentcommercial spatial card tracking solutions in resolving difficulttracking issues, which currently requires expensive manual searching ofvideo footage.

The embodiments also assist in cases where current commercial offeringslose track of gaming cards due to various limitations. As shown in thefigures described above, a card is known to be on the table, but inthese other commercial offerings, an identifier associated with the cardis not available from the input device tracking the card. For instance,in particular environmental situations, for example, system anomaliesand limitations of current spatial card tracking systems occur. In thesecases it is very difficult to maintain an approximate location of thevarious cards. In particular, if the gaming cards are overlapped, thecurrently described systems and methods are operable to resolve suchanomalies.

Security event review using the methods and systems described herein isquick and inexpensive. The described embodiments provide a costeffective solution compatible with legacy systems that is independent ofthe game tracking technology employed.

The described embodiments provide for either a retro-fit or newlydesigned system in which all of the current game play event informationbeing processed can be collected and in a useful manner related to thebasic security video information. Such information generally forms thefoundation of any security issue check. The core system that isdescribed can remain intact despite changes in the details of the eventinformation and video received brought about by advancing technology.

Exemplary Operating Environment

By way of example and not limitation, computer readable media comprisecomputer storage media and communication media. Computer storage mediastore information such as computer readable instructions, datastructures, program modules or other data. Communication media typicallyembody computer readable instructions, data structures, program modules,or other data in a modulated data signal such as a carrier wave or othertransport mechanism and include any information delivery media.Combinations of any of the above are also included within the scope ofcomputer readable media.

Although described in connection with an exemplary computing systemenvironment, embodiments of the invention are operational with numerousother general purpose or special purpose computing system environmentsor configurations. Examples of well known computing systems,environments, and/or configurations that may be suitable for use withaspects of the invention include, but are not limited to, mobilecomputing devices, personal computers, server computers, hand-held orlaptop devices, multiprocessor systems, gaming consoles,microprocessor-based systems, set top boxes, programmable consumerelectronics, mobile telephones, network PCs, minicomputers, mainframecomputers, distributed computing environments that include any of theabove systems or devices, and the like.

Embodiments of the invention may be described in the general context ofcomputer-executable instructions, such as program modules, executed byone or more computers or other devices. The computer-executableinstructions may be organized into one or more computer-executablecomponents or modules. Generally, program modules include, but are notlimited to, routines, programs, objects, components, and data structuresthat perform particular tasks or implement particular abstract datatypes. Aspects of the invention may be implemented with any number andorganization of such components or modules. For example, aspects of theinvention are not limited to the specific computer-executableinstructions or the specific components or modules illustrated in thefigures and described herein. Other embodiments of the invention mayinclude different computer-executable instructions or components havingmore or less functionality than illustrated and described herein.

The order of execution or performance of the operations in embodimentsof the invention illustrated and described herein is not essential,unless otherwise specified. That is, the operations may be performed inany order, unless otherwise specified, and embodiments of the inventionmay include additional or fewer operations than those disclosed herein.For example, it is contemplated that executing or performing aparticular operation before, contemporaneously with, or after anotheroperation is within the scope of aspects of the invention.

When introducing elements of aspects of the invention or the embodimentsthereof, the articles “a,” “an,” “the,” and “said” are intended to meanthat there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising,”“including,” and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean thatthere may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

This written description uses examples to disclose the invention,including the best mode, and also to enable any person skilled in theart to practice the invention, including making and using any devices orsystems and performing any incorporated methods. The patentable scope ofthe invention is defined by the claims, and may include other examplesthat occur to those skilled in the art. Such other examples are intendedto be within the scope of the claims if they have structural elementsthat do not differ from the literal language of the claims, or if theyinclude equivalent structural elements with insubstantial differencesfrom the literal language of the claims.

1. A method for validating gaming operations, said method comprising:configuring at least one game tracking device to detect and communicategame play events in a game; configuring at least one video camera tohave a view of the game and provide a video signal; receiving the gameplay events from the at least one game tracking device; receiving thevideo signal from the at least one video camera; combining a graphicalrepresentation of each of the received game play events with thereceived video signal to generate a combined video signal; storing thecombined video signal; and enabling searching for one or more of thegame play events in the stored video signal.
 2. The method of claim 1,wherein combining the graphical representation of each of the game playevents with the video signal to generate the combined video signalcomprises associating each of the game play events with a position inthe combined video signal.
 3. The method of claim 1, further comprisingstoring the game play events in a memory area.
 4. The method of claim 1,wherein the game comprises one or more of the following: a card game, adice game, a table game, a reel game, and a wheel game.
 5. The method ofclaim 1, wherein the at least one game tracking device comprises a carddispenser which detects and communicates card identity.
 6. The method ofclaim 1, wherein enabling searching comprises: receiving a request froma user for one or more game play events; searching the stored videosignal for the requested game play events to generate search results;and providing to the user the portions of the stored video signalcorresponding to the search results.
 7. The method of claim 1, whereinreceiving the video signal from the at least one video camera comprisesreceiving the video signal from each of a plurality of video cameras andcombining the video signals into a single video signal.
 8. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising configuring the at least one video camera toprovide a video signal combined with an audio signal.
 9. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising: configuring at least one microphone nearthe game to provide an audio signal; receiving the audio signal from theat least one microphone; and adding the audio signal to one or more ofthe following: the video signal from the at least one video camera, thecombined video signal, and the stored video signal.
 10. The method ofclaim 1, further comprising encrypting one or more of the following: thevideo signal from the video camera, the combined video signal, and thestored video signal.
 11. A system for validating gaming operations, saidsystem comprising: a memory area for storing at least one video signaland a plurality of game play events; and a processor programmed to:receive at least one video signal, said at least one video signalcomprising video of a game; store the at least one video signal in thememory area; receive a plurality of game play events from at least onegame tracking device; store the plurality of game play events in thememory area; search for one or more of the stored game play events togenerate search results; and for each of the search results, combine agraphical representation of the search result with a correspondingportion of the at least one stored video signal to generate a combinedvideo signal.
 12. The system of claim 11, wherein the game comprises oneor more of the following: a card game, a dice game, a table game, a reelgame, and a wheel game.
 13. The system of claim 11, wherein the at leastone game tracking device comprises a card dispenser which detects andcommunicates at least one of the following: card identity and cardvalue.
 14. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is programmedto combine the graphical representation of the search result with thecorresponding portion of the at least one stored video signal bycombining a graphical representation of the search result with acorresponding portion of at least one of a plurality of stored videosignals.
 15. The system of claim 11, wherein the processor is programmedto receive a plurality of video signals and combine the video signalsinto a single video signal.
 16. The system of claim 11, wherein theprocessor is programmed to search for one or more of the stored gameplay events by searching based on at least one of the followingcriteria: game piece value, game piece identification, playeridentification, operator identification, game outcome, payout, and timeperiod.
 17. A system for server-based gaming, said system comprising: atleast one server in communication with at least one gaming apparatus; atleast one video device providing a video signal to the server; and aprocessor configured to: receive a plurality of game play events fromthe gaming apparatus; receive the video signal from the video device;synchronize the received game play events with the received videosignal; search for one or more of the received game play events togenerate search results; and for each of the search results, combine agraphical representation of the search result with a correspondingportion of the received video signal to generate a combined videosignal.
 18. The system of claim 17, wherein the processor is furtherconfigured to provide the combined video signal to a user of a remotedevice.
 19. The system of claim 17, wherein the at least one gamingapparatus comprises a device which detects and communicates at least oneof the following: card identity and card value.
 20. The system of claim17, wherein the processor is configured to search for one or more of thereceived game play events by: enabling a user of a remote device toprovide search criteria; and searching for one or more of the receivedgame play events based on the provided search criteria.